SilverFin: Young Bond, Book 1

What does it take to become the greatest secret agent the world has ever known? In this thrilling prequel to the James Bond series, readers meet a 13-year-old schoolboy whose inquisitive mind and determination set him on a path that will one day take him all over the world, in pursuit of the most dangerous criminals known to man.

Zero Minus Ten: James Bond Series

In the Australian desert, a nuclear bomb explodes. There are no survivors and no clues about who has made it or detonated it. In England, two police officers are shot dead when they apprehend a cargo vessel in Portsmouth dock. Vast quantities of heroin are later found on board.

Stormbreaker: The First Alex Rider Adventure

They said his uncle Ian died in a car accident. Alex Rider knows that's a lie, and the bullet holes in his uncle's car confirm the truth. But nothing can prepare him for the news that the uncle he always thought he knew was really a spy for Britain's top-secret intelligence agency. Enlisted to find his uncle's killers and complete Ian's final mission, Alex suddenly finds himself caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse, with no way out.

The Flame Bearer: Saxon Tales, Book 10

From the day it was stolen from me, I dreamed of recapturing Bebbanburg. The great fort had been built on a rock that was almost an island. It was massive; it could be approached only on land by a single narrow track; and it was mine. Britain is in a state of uneasy peace. Northumbria's Viking ruler, Sigtryggr, and Mercia's Saxon queen, Aethelflaed, have agreed to a truce. And so England's greatest warrior, Uhtred of Bebbanburg, at last has the chance to take back the home his traitorous uncle stole from him so many years ago.

Trigger Mortis: With Original Material by Ian Fleming

Incorporating original, never-before-published material from 007 creator Ian Fleming, New York Times best-selling author Anthony Horowitz returns literary legend James Bond to his 1950s heyday in this exhilarating and dashing thriller.

Casino Royale: James Bond, Book 1

For James Bond and the British Secret Service, the stakes couldn't be higher. 007's mission is to neutralize the Russian operative Le Chiffre by ruining him at the baccarat table, forcing his Soviet masters to "retire" him. When Le Chiffre hits a losing streak, Bond discovers his luck is in - that is, until he meets Vesper Lynd, a glamorous agent who might yet prove to be his downfall. This audiobook includes an exclusive bonus interview with Dan Stevens.

Solo

It's 1969, and, having just celebrated his 45th birthday, James Bond - British special agent 007 - is summoned to headquarters to receive an unusual assignment. Zanzarim, a troubled West African nation, is being ravaged by a bitter civil war, and M directs Bond to quash the rebels threatening the established regime. Bond's arrival in Africa marks the start of a feverish mission to discover the forces behind this brutal war - and he soon realizes the situation is far from straightforward.

Casino Royale

Introducing James Bond: charming, sophisticated, handsome, chillingly ruthless, and licensed to kill. This, the first of Ian Fleming's tales of secret agent 007, finds Bond on a mission to neutralize a lethal, high-rolling Russian operative called "Le Chiffre" by ruining him at the Baccarat table, forcing his Soviet spymasters to "retire" him. It seems that lady luck has sided with 007 when Le Chiffre hits a losing streak. But some people just refuse to play by the rules.

Cherub: The Recruit

A terrorist doesn't let strangers in her flat because they might be undercover police or intelligence agents, but her children bring their mates home and they run all over the place. The terrorist doesn't know that a kid has bugged every room in her house, cloned the hard drive on her PC, and copied all the numbers in her phone book. The kid works for Cherub. Cherub agents are aged between ten and seventeen. They live in the real world, slipping under adult radar and getting information that sends criminals and terrorists to jail.

The Hammer of Thor: Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard, Book 2

Thor's hammer is missing...again. The thunder god has a disturbing habit of misplacing his weapon - the mightiest force in the Nine Worlds. But this time the hammer isn't just lost; it has fallen into enemy hands. If Magnus Chase and his friends can't retrieve the hammer quickly, the mortal worlds will be defenseless against an onslaught of giants. Ragnarok will begin. The Nine Worlds will burn. Unfortunately the only person who can broker a deal for the hammer's return is the gods' worst enemy, Loki - and the price he wants is very high.

Fledgling: The Dragonrider Chronicles, Book 1

Can one boy stand between two kingdoms at war? Jaevid Broadfeather has grown up as a wartime refugee, hiding from the world because of his mixed racial heritage. He feels his future is hopeless - until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy, a place usually forbidden to anyone but the rich and royal. But Jaevid's case is special; no dragon has voluntarily chosen a rider in decades, so the proud riders of Blybrig must begrudgingly let him join their brotherhood despite his bloodline.

Sackett's Land: The Sacketts, Book 1

Son of a feared fighting man, Barnabas Sackett inherited his father's fiery temper, sense of justice and warrior skills. Declared an outlaw in his native England, Barnabas set his daring sights on the opportunity of the New World. The ruthless piracy of the open seas and the unknown dangers of the savage American wilderness lay before him. And so did the thrill of discovery and the chance to establish a bold new future if he survived.

Publisher's Summary

As the sun blazes over the Caribbean island of Lágrimas Negras, its bloodthirsty ruler is watching and waiting. Criminals come here to hide, with blood on their hands and escape on their minds. On the mainland, in the quiet town of Tres Hermanas, ex–flying ace Jack Stone leaves his son and daughter in the company of James Bond. But a gang of thieves lies in ambush—they want Stone’s precious safe and will kill for its contents. James embarks on a deadly chase through the Mexican jungle. On this terrifying trail of greed and betrayal, only danger is guaranteed—survival is not.

The book was hard to pay attention to because of Mr. Doyle. I'm sure there are a lot of books he reads well, however this one was not among the list. I would listen to 10 mins of this book and not remember anything I heard. I kept starting over - this was the most tedious listen I've experienced. I wanted to listen to the story so I pressed on. I purchased Book 5 in paper form as I cannot find it read by anyone else than Mr. Doyle. Please bring back Nathaniel Parker.

I am not sure how much the narrator colored my impression of this book, but this was my least favorite of the series so far. Eoin Colfer made the mistake of having someone else read his Artemis Fowl books, only to realize the mistake and bring back the amazing Nathaniel Parker.

I found the story to be lackluster with no real suspense. After all these are tales of Young James Bond, we know he is not going to die, and we know he is going to grow up to be the greatest spy the world has ever known. The Rat Run that is the focus of the finale of the book loses a great deal of suspense because you know he will make it through unscathed.

All in all, this book would have been an entertaining distraction if read by Nathaniel Parker, but Gerard Doyle made a dull book that much worse.

If you're a fan of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels this Young Bond series is a must read. The stories take place in the correct time line to Fleming's original novels (late 30's)before WWII. Can't wait for the fifth book 'By Royal Command' which isn't available in the US yet.

The story seems a bit farfetched, however it was fun. I just couldn't fathom some of the settings and events and it strained the listen.Combined with a terrible performance and I almost dumped the book. The reader sounded like a robot. Still the story wrapped up neatly, and follows closely with the series theme.